The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 13, 2025

Baby Krishna Asking for Butter from Yashoda, from a Kalighat album

c. 1890

Eastern India, Kolkata, Kalighat

Gum tempera, graphite, ink, and tin on paper
Secondary Support: 48 x 30 cm (18 7/8 x 11 13/16 in.); Painting only: 45.7 x 28 cm (18 x 11 in.)
Gift of William E. Ward in memory of his wife, Evelyn Svec Ward 2003.112
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Kalighat artists made metallic pigment out of tin to look like silver.

Description

As the incarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu, whose followers recognize as the deity who creates and destroys the universe, Krishna was always eating. Like time itself, which ultimately consumes everything, Krishna eats so much his foster mother Yashoda cannot believe it. When she looks in his mouth, she sees the cosmos and realizes he is not an ordinary baby.
  • ?–2003
    William E. Ward [1922–2004], Solon, OH, given to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2003–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Life and Exploits of Krishna in Indian Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 1, 2021-February 6, 2022).
    Indian Kalighat Paintings. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (May 1-September 18, 2011).
  • {{cite web|title=Baby Krishna Asking for Butter from Yashoda, from a Kalighat album|url=false|author=|year=c. 1890|access-date=13 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2003.112